The Mindful Men Podcast

Welcome to Episode 9 - Parenting and Mental Health During COVID with David Day Today I'm joined by an old mate of mine, David Day.  Dave is a proud husband, father and fan of NRL club Wests Tigers. Originally from central NSW, Dave turned his back on the shearing sheds to enliven his mind with english literature at University, before venturing into a career in the public service. In this episode, we talk about his experience with parenting and mental health during COVID.  Dave opens up about balancing being a dad, working from home and his challenges with anxiety and depression. He also shares the challenges his family faced with border lockdowns and seeing his family.  If you're keen to check out Dave's creative writing, he's featured in the Jan/Feb 2022 edition of Mindfood Magazine (hardcopy version).  If you love what you hear, please like the show. Share it with your mates, and click subscribe. Leave a review and rating to help spread the Mindful Men word! You can also check us out at: Website: www.mindful-men.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.men.aus/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXBNQmbj4ZQj3rzFAZALTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindful.men.aus/ ***If anything triggers you from today's episode, please reach out to your support networks or seek professional help*** Cheers, Simon

Welcome to Episode 8 – Finding New Purpose as a Mature Age Student With the new university year about to start, I've been reflecting over my Masters of Social Work journey.  I finished my degree at the end of 2021, and I am so glad that I'm free of tutorials, lectures readings and essays! But at the same time, I'm also thankful.  I'm thankful for having done my Masters degree. Because it has opened my eyes, mind and heart to what is possible. It's encouraged me to pursue my dreams and not settle for a job for job's sake.  If you love what you hear, please like the show. Share it with your mates, and click subscribe. Leave a review and rating to help spread the Mindful Men word! You can also check us out at: Website: www.mindful-men.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.men.aus/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXBNQmbj4ZQj3rzFAZALTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindful.men.aus/ ***If anything triggers you from today's episode, please reach out to your support networks or seek professional help*** Cheers, Simon

Welcome to Episode 7 – Filling Your Cup with Happy Hormones Today's episode centres on self-care and how you can fill your cup with Happy Hormones! When we think about self-care, we often think about hippies on a yoga retreat, or the girls going for a facial and massage. And this puts us blokes off. We think self-care isn't for us. It's almost like it's a dirty word that blokes dare not mention! But self-care IS manly. It's also in our everyday life... we just need to tune into it! In this episode, I introduce you to the Happy Hormones: Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin and Endorphins. My aim with this episode is to help you become mindful about what kind of self-care you're doing. Are you exercising, eating good food... or hitting the pub for a big bender? By understanding the Happy Hormones, we can start to tailor our self-care regime to something that is longer lasting... fills our cup... and give us the long term happiness results we've been secretly craving! If you love what you hear, please like the show. Share it with your mates, and click subscribe. Leave a review and rating to help spread the Mindful Men word! You can also check us out at: Website: www.mindful-men.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.men.aus/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXBNQmbj4ZQj3rzFAZALTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindful.men.aus/ ***If anything triggers you from today's episode, please reach out to your support networks or seek professional help*** Cheers, Simon References for today's show: https://www.healthline.com/health/happy-hormone https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/serotonin https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dopamine https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/oxytocin https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-endorphins-5025072

Welcome to Episode 6 – What it's Like to Live through Burnout As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on and on, Burnout is a condition that is finding its way into the news on a regular basis.  Put simply, Burnout is the result of long-term stress that doesn't get dealt with.  And it can happen to anyone. Workers, students, parents, carers, athletes, entertainers, business owners, and even podcast and content creators... Burnout doesn't discriminate. In this episode, I share my story of Burnout. From not knowing what it was, to realising I had been juggling too many things at once (and for a very long time). Working, studying, parenting, a back injury and COVID-19 all contributed to me burning out big time! I finish this episode by taking you through some of the self-care regime that helped me live through Burnout. If you love what you hear, please like the show. Share it with your mates, and click subscribe. Leave a review and rating to help spread the Mindful Men word! You can also check us out at: Website: www.mindful-men.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.men.aus/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXBNQmbj4ZQj3rzFAZALTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindful.men.aus/ ***If anything triggers you from today's episode, please reach out to your support networks or seek professional help*** Cheers, Simon References for today's show: https://www.healthline.com/health/tips-for-identifying-and-preventing-burnout#signs https://www.upskilled.edu.au/skillstalk/workplace-burnout-how-to-know-when-affected https://www.headsup.org.au/docs/default-source/resources/bl1270-report---tns-the-state-of-mental-health-in-australian-workplaces-hr.pdf?sfvrsn=94e47a4d_8 https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/01/special-burnout-stress

Welcome to Episode 5 – What it’s Like to Live With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Today's episode talks about an often misunderstood, and highly trivialised disorder - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).  OCD has been in my life for longer than anxiety and depression, but it wasn't until around 20 years from my first symptom, that I sort help for it.  It's an insight into a silent condition, one that takes about 17 years (on average) for people to seek help for.  And in sharing my story, I hope to inspire other boys, men, and OCD sufferers to tell theirs.  If you love what you hear, please like the show. Share it with your mates, and click subscribe. Leave a review and rating to help spread the Mindful Men word! You can also check us out at: You can also check us out at: Website: www.mindful-men.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.men.aus/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXBNQmbj4ZQj3rzFAZALTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindful.men.aus/ ***If anything triggers you from today's episode, please reach out to your support networks or seek professional help*** Cheers, Simon References for today's show: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/how-long-does-ocd-treatment-take https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ https://www.sane.org/information-stories/facts-and-guides/obsessive-compulsive-disorder https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd https://www.brainsway.com/knowledge-center/ocd-statistics-around-the-world/ https://beyondocd.org/information-for-individuals/clinical-definition-of-ocd

Welcome to Episode 4 – What it’s Like to Live With Anxiety Today I look at anxiety, a mental health condition impacting 1 in 5 men in Australia. For me, anxiety started when I was in my primary school years, and it's stuck around ever since.  In this episode, I'll give you some insight into what anxiety looks and feels like, including some of the coping strategies I have used to try and deal with it.  And be sure to stick around until the end, as I'll give you a great tool to use when you're feeling anxious.   If you love what you hear, please like the show. Share it with your mates, and click subscribe. Leave a review and rating to help spread the Mindful Men word! You can also check us out at: Website: www.mindful-men.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.men.aus/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXBNQmbj4ZQj3rzFAZALTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindful.men.aus/ ***If anything triggers you from today's episode, please reach out to your support networks or seek professional help*** Cheers, Simon References for today's show: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/media/statistics WHO - Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders Global Health Estimates https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/types-of-anxiety/gad https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/types-of-anxiety/social-phobia

Welcome to Episode 3 – What it’s Like to Live With Depression Today I discuss the dark cloud, or black dog, that many of us walk around with... Depression. I talk about the signs to look out for and how Depression has showed up in my life. From when it showed up in high school, to how it manifested in the lead up to my diagnosis in 2012.  I also share some of the things I have done to treat my Depression, in the hope that it might encourage you (or someone you know) to try them if they haven't already.  If you love what you hear, please like the show. Share it with your mates, and click subscribe. Leave a review and rating to help spread the Mindful Men word! You can also check us out at: Website: www.mindful-men.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.men.aus/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXBNQmbj4ZQj3rzFAZALTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindful.men.aus/ ***If anything triggers you from today's episode, please reach out to your support networks or seek professional help*** Cheers, Simon References for today's show: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression https://www.beyondblue.org.au/media/statistics https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/depression/types-of-depression https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/depression/signs-and-symptoms https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/pregnancy-and-new-parents/maternal-mental-health-and-wellbeing/depression https://www.beyondblue.org.au/who-does-it-affect/men/what-causes-anxiety-and-depression-in-men/new-fathers https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/depression/what-causes-depression

Welcome to Episode 2 - Why You Don’t Need to be Famous to Talk About Mental Health Today's episode is one for the average blokes. It's one that centres on my purpose... to tell my story in the hope that it inspires other boys and men to tell theirs.  And why is this important? Because I believe that men need to speak up, because let's face it... we're not that good at it! By speaking up, we can address mental health issues before they become "issues". We can actively work through our turmoil and come out the other side with greater focus and purpose.  If you love what you hear, please like the show. Share it with your mates, and click subscribe. Leave a review and rating to help spread the Mindful Men word! You can also check us out at: Website: www.mindful-men.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.men.aus/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXBNQmbj4ZQj3rzFAZALTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindful.men.aus/ ***If anything triggers you from today's episode, please reach out to your support networks or seek professional help*** Cheers, Simon

Welcome to Episode 1 - Lets Get Men Talking! Today's episode is a brief introduction to what the Mindful Men Podcast is all about... opening up conversations about men's wellbeing.  I touch on issues that stop men from talking about their mental health, and the potential outcomes from not talking (think relationship breakdowns, to substance abuse, to violence and suicide). I also touch on a bit of my story, and how my experience of burnout sparked the creation of Mindful Men.  If you love what you hear, please like the show. Share it with your mates, and click subscribe. Leave a review and rating to help spread the Mindful Men word! You can also check us out at: Website: www.mindful-men.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.men.aus/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXBNQmbj4ZQj3rzFAZALTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindful.men.aus/ ***If anything triggers you from today's episode, please reach out to your support networks or seek professional help*** Cheers, Simon References for today's show: https://www.lifeline.org.au/resources/data-and-statistics/ https://www.beyondblue.org.au/who-does-it-affect/men https://www.who.int/news/item/17-06-2021-one-in-100-deaths-is-by-suicide